The distinction may hardly be higher. Just some days in the past, the Italian nationwide group missed out on World Cup qualification for the third consecutive time after a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s undoubtedly a historic low level that ruthlessly exposes the nation’s structural issues. These embody poor youth improvement, little to no belief in younger gamers, and a league that struggles to shake off its fame as a “retirement league.”
After which there may be Como. On the attractive shores of Lake Como, a extremely intriguing soccer mission has emerged below coach Cesc Fabregas. With a daring and attacking model (“I like to assault and I like to have the ball”), the Spaniard has turned what was as soon as a second- and even third-division membership right into a Champions League contender. They’re presently fourth and maintain a three-point lead over former serial champions Juventus.
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Success can be a results of cash
The much less romantic fact is that this: this fast rise has been made potential primarily by large funding. Because the Indonesian Hartono brothers got here on board, Como have been in a wonderful monetary place, with round €127 million spent on new gamers on this season alone. Names like Álvaro Morata and high expertise Nico Paz are symbolic of that high quality.
However that is precisely the place the actual drawback begins – a minimum of from an Italian perspective. As a result of whereas Como are thrilling on the pitch, the affect of home gamers is virtually non-existent. Solely two Italians are even within the squad, and their mixed enjoying time quantities to a mere 14 minutes. As a substitute, Fabregas depends on a global combine, together with a notably excessive variety of older gamers.
So the bitter realization is that this: the maybe most enjoyable membership of this Serie A season has completely nothing to do with the event of Italian gamers – and subsequently, not directly, with the Italian nationwide group as nicely.
📸 Marco Luzzani – 2026 Getty Photographs
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Fabregas impressed by Wenger
Actually, Como embody precisely what Italian soccer is lacking. The group performs bravely, with selection, and has a transparent attacking identification. Fabregas takes inspiration from coaches like Arsène Wenger, whom he calls a “second father,” and persistently applies fashionable ideas reminiscent of positional play and fast transitions. “I discovered quite a bit from him, and I need my group to place that into apply as nicely,” explains the World Cup and European Championship winner.
However whereas an internationally assembled membership shakes up the league, home expertise improvement is being left behind. International locations like England, Spain, and France produce enormous numbers of high gamers 12 months after 12 months. Italy, against this, can solely watch from the sidelines – together with on the upcoming World Cup.
Satirically, then, Como are each a beacon of hope and a warning. The success of the Lombardy membership exhibits what is feasible with a transparent plan, correctly invested cash, and an excessive amount of braveness. Nevertheless it additionally mercilessly lays naked why the once-feared Squadra Azzurra have presently fallen behind.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.